Clematis

Ask the Expert: Flower identification

This flower blooms each June and is a vine-type plant. I have not been able to identify this plant. Can you help? Phil

Plant Expert Reply:

What you have is a clematis.  I'm not sure which variety it is.  Go to Donahue's Clematis, they have great pictures of several clematis varieties and more information on how to take care of them.

Blue Salvia Bloom

Salvia

Emily Hartley

Plant Expert Reply:
You have a type of salvia. I am not sure which species or cultivar it is. It could be a Salvia patens. They tend to become leggy and flop over if in too much shade. You can trim it back after it blooms. This might keep the next set of blooms from falling over. If it gets taller and still flops over, you can stake the plant.

Hymenocallis caroliniana Stalk

Hymenocallis caroliniana Leaves

Ask the Expert: Can you tell me what the name of this plant? I live in Arkansas and I found it on the side of the road. Just thought it was neat looking. It looks like it might have a bloom coming out now. I can't wait to see what it looks like. Can you tell me more about it? Dawn

Plant Expert Reply:

Looks like a Hymenocallis caroliniana known as Spider Lily.  These are native to Arkansas and often found in the wild.   I can make a positive ID when it blooms.  So if you can send me a picture of the bloom.

Begonia Rex

Ask the Expert: Do you know the name of this house plant? Can you identify this house plant. I would like it's name and any other information you may have on it. Thank you! Linda

Plant Expert Reply:

It is a little hard to tell from the picture but it looks as if you have a Rex Begonia. This herbaceous perennial is only hardy in zone 10 to 11 and therefore treated more as an annual or houseplant.  This houseplant needs high humidity and well-drained soil. You will need to be careful not to over water this plant.  If the roots remain soggy for too long, they will rot. You, also, need to fertilize it quite often during the growing season. Fertilizing should begin in spring and end in the fall.  I recommend a balanced fertilizer just slighlty higher in nitrogen that is water soluable every two weeks.  Rex Begonias need lots of bright filtered light. The optimum day time temperature is in the 70 degree range and the night temperature is in the 60 degree range.  Most normal household temperatures will be sufficient. 

Good Luck with your plant and keep me posted.

Rosary Vine - Ceropegia

Ask the Expert: what type of plant is this?
I have a plant that was given to me. It consists of long, string-like tendrils with small leaves.. the leaves are green with a whitish pattern. They are spaced approximately 3 inches apart.
I have attached a picture and would really appreciate it if someone could help me identify it so that I can figure out how to propagate it.
Thank you
Janet

Plant Expert Reply:
This plant is called Rosary vine, Hearts on a String, Sweetheart vine and string of hearts. It is formally known as Ceropegia linearis or Ceropegia woodii.

You can propagate it by seed in the early spring when temperatures are around 66 to 77 degrees. If you want to propagate it from stems cuttings, you will need to take 4 to 6" stem cuttings in the early summer and root them in a sand and peat mixture.

Good luck and keep me posted on your propagation.

Dahlia Summer Nights Yellow

Ask the Expert: What is this flower
I found this flower last week in a garden at a park in Warsaw Indiana. I don't know if it is an annual or perenial. Does anyone know what it is. Mary

Plant Expert Reply:

I believe what you have is a Dalia called Summer Nights.  The yellow flowers next to the rich dark foliage is amazing. Unfortunately, I am not sure if it is perennial or annual.  You might pop into your local garden center and see if they are familiar with this plant.

Spathiphyllum

Ask the Expert: What kind of plant is this?
We have this plant at my work.  It is several years old.  We are trying to figure out the best way to care for the plant, since it does not seem very happy…  It does seem to be very hardy, since we often forget to water it.  Two pictures are attached.

It also has a brown scale growing on the stems.  I have attached that picture also.  It does not seem normal and, if it is a disease, I'd like to get rid of it.

Plant Expert Reply:

The plant you have is a Spathiphyllum (peace lily).  The photo with the "brown scale" was too blurry for me to tell what it is.  However, the brown tips on the leaves in the picture above are from lack of water.  We have information about how to care for peace lilies on our peace lily plant page (you will need to scroll down the page to see the information).

Your peace lily actually look rather healthy.

Spent Bloom Of Allium - Wild Onion

Ask the Expert: Plant Identification
Found this rather odd plant growing in my yard.  To be honest, when it first came up I thought it was wild onions.  It just kept getting taller and taller, however, and because it was growing in an area that wasn't creating a problem, I let it go to see what it would become.  Eventually it grew to a height well over two feet.  A single green stem extends from the ground and the stem is very woody and strong.  The wild morning glories, in fact, are using them for a trellis.  It developed a ball shaped "bud" at the very top of the stem that looked almost like a spire on old, Russian architecture.  When it bloomed, it looked like one of those crazy cans of peanuts with the spring loaded worm in it.  Here is a picture of it after it bloomed.  Gina

Plant Expert Reply:

First, I love your description.  So many times, people have a hard time describing the plant that needs identification.  With your description, I could have idenitified it immediately without a picture.

What you have is a plant from the Allium genus.  Most of the plants in this genus are some kind of "wild" onion or "wild" garlic and considered undesirable by many.  However, several species are used in English garden or herb gardens.  Without a picture of the bloom, it is hard to determine which species you have.  If  I had to guess by height and look of stem only, it would be  Allium caeruleum, Allium cristophii, Allium x hollandicum, Allium nigrum, Allium paniculatum, Allium roseum, Allium schoenoprasum, Allium sensecens, or Allium sphaerocephalon.

If you didn't plant it specifically, I would recommend pulling it up and getting rid of it.  The seed will sprout all over the place. If you like the look of the plant and want to keep it,  you can keep it contained with a little maintenance.

Polyantha or Rugosa Rose

Ask the Expert: What is this BEAUTIFUL hot pink shrub??
My friend's neighbor has this outrageous flowering shrub.  I've never seen one like it.  It's not an azalea.  The flowers are big the leaves are dark.  Patty

Reply:

I believe what you have is a either a polyantha or rugosa rose.  When most people think of roses, the hybrid tea that is often used in floral arrangements is the one that comes to mind.  However the rose family is very large and has members that come in all shapes and sizes.  The ployantha and the rugosa roses are closley related to the old wild roses and are used as blooming shrubs in landscapes.

Variegata Weigela

Ask the Expert: Can you help identify this plant
We bought this plant last year and did not keep the tag and can't remember what it was. It has bloomed so beautifully this year and are hoping to find out what it is so we can purchase more like it. Can you please help us identify the plant? I has been in bloom for about a week now.
Thank you! Cheryl

Reply:

You have a variegated weigela which is a shrub that attracts hummingbirds.